Delay, Chorus, and Flanger
Delay is one of the simplest and most powerful time-based effects in audio production. It records an incoming signal, waits for a set amount of time, and then plays it back—either once or many times, depending on the settings.
By mixing delayed and dry signals, delay creates space, rhythm, width, and unique timbral textures. REAPER’s ReaDelay plugin makes it easy to explore these variations.
Understanding Delay⌗
A delay effect:
- Records the input into a short digital buffer.
- Plays it back after a defined delay time.
- Mixes that delayed signal with the dry (original) one.
By adjusting delay time, feedback, and mix, you can shape the character and movement of the sound.
Delay Time Ranges and Their Effects⌗
| Delay Type | Typical Range (ms) | Sound Character | Tempo-Synced Equivalents (at 120 BPM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very short | 1–10 | Comb filtering; flanging zone | 1/64–1/32 (≈ 31–63 ms) |
| Short (ADT/Haas) | 10–40 | Thickening, width; watch mono compatibility | — |
| Slapback | 75–150 | Single audible echo; classic rockabilly vocal feel | 1/16 ≈ 125 ms; dotted-1/16 ≈ 187.5 ms |
| Rhythmic/long | 250–800+ | Distinct rhythmic repeats; ambient/spatial echoes | 1/8 = 250 ms; dotted-1/8 = 375 ms; 1/4 = 500 ms |
| Very long | 800+ | Sound design; evolving textures; looping | — |
Formula for Delay Time:delay (ms) = 60000 / BPM × note_value
Example: At 120 BPM, a dotted eighth note equals 375 ms.
Listening Examples⌗
Rhythmic and Long Delays⌗
U2 – Where the Streets Have No Name
The Edge’s dotted-eighth delay defines U2’s signature rhythmic guitar sound.
Pink Floyd – Run Like Hell
A tempo-synced delay that locks perfectly with the groove.
Slapback Delay⌗
Elvis Presley – Mystery Train
Classic Sun Studios slapback—around 130 ms, minimal feedback.
John Lennon – Instant Karma!
Short single echo for added vocal presence.
Doubling / ADT⌗
The Beatles – Tomorrow Never Knows
Subtle, modulated short delays create doubled textures.
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
Vocal thickness comes from double-tracking and short delay blending.
Ping-Pong / Stereo Delay⌗
David Bowie – Let’s Dance
Stereo delays bounce between left and right for width and energy.
Flanger⌗
Small Faces – Itchycoo Park
One of the earliest examples of tape flanging.
Van Halen – Unchained
Jet-like flanger sweep across Eddie Van Halen’s guitar.
Chorus⌗
Nirvana – Come As You Are
Watery chorus modulation on the guitar riff.
The Police – Walking on the Moon
Chorus and delay combine for lush, atmospheric space.
In-Class REAPER Exercise⌗
Goal: Explore how different delay times affect perception and space.
- Download the practice files here.
Listen to each file individually. - Create three FX return tracks: Short Delay, Medium Delay, Long Delay.
- Insert ReaDelay on each FX track.
Set Dry to -inf dB (so only the delayed signal is heard). - Start with:
- Short Delay: 15–25 ms
- Medium Delay: 120–150 ms
- Long Delay: 300 ms+ or tempo-synced (⅛, ¼, dotted-⅛)
- Add sends from your audio tracks to the delay buses.
Adjust send levels to taste. - Add ReaEQ to roll off highs (LP ~6–8 kHz) and ReaComp for optional ducking.
Beyond Basic Delay⌗
Both flanger and chorus are based on short modulated delays, but they differ in delay times, modulation depth, and the way they shape tone and movement.
| Effect | Typical Delay Time | Core Concept | Audible Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flanger | 0.5–10 ms | Mixes the dry signal with a very short, modulated delay. The constantly changing time offset causes moving comb-filter peaks in the frequency spectrum. | Sweeping, “jet plane” or “whooshing” sound as frequencies phase in and out. |
| Chorus | 15–30 ms | Mixes the dry signal with one or more slightly longer, modulated delays. These delays simulate small timing/pitch variations between performers. | Smooth, shimmering thickening effect—like multiple instruments playing together. |
Flanger in REAPER⌗
Try JS: Flanger or use ReaDelay as a flanger:
- Delay: 2–5 ms
- Feedback: 30–60%
- Mod Rate: 0.2–0.5 Hz
Chorus in REAPER⌗
Use REAPER’s built-in Chorus or JS: Chorus:
- Delay: 20–30 ms
- Mod Rate: 0.3–0.6 Hz
- Depth: 5–10 ms modulation
Creative Delay Techniques⌗
Ping-Pong Delay
- Two taps in ReaDelay, panned left/right with slightly different times.
Ducked Delay
- Sidechain a compressor (ReaComp) from the dry signal to make delay audible only between phrases.
Feedback Loop Sound Design
- Enable feedback routing (Project Settings → Advanced).
Add EQ or distortion in the loop for evolving textures. Always use a limiter.
Karplus–Strong Plucked Delay
- Delay: 8–12 ms
- High feedback, lowpass filter
- Excite with a short noise burst.